Centrifugal oil separator for use with heat engines



Jan. 18, 1927. 1,614,803'

D. PERRIER A CENTRIFUGAL OIL SEPARATOR FOR USE WITH HEAT ENGINES Filed Ap ri1 2, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 'In'l111110101111111111111111111111ulnllllfllunulllul Jan. 18, 1927.

D. PERRIER GEN'IRIFUGAL OIL sEPARAToR Fon Us WITH HEAT ENGINES Filed April 2, 1926 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ig. .le

l a l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l u H Jan. 18 1927.

D. PERRIER CENTRIFUGAL OIL SEPARATOR FOR USE WITH HEAT ENGINES 3 Sheefs-Sheet 3 Filed April 2 Fig. 6

Fig. '1

' combine Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES DANIEL PERRIER. OF UNIEUX, FRANCE'ASSIGNOB' 0F ONE-HAL]l TO THE FIBH COI- BAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE DEB MOTEURS A EXPLOSION (C. I. I. E.), OF PARIS,

FRANCE, A CORPORATION OF FRANCE.`

CENTBIEUGAL OIL SEPABATOB FOB, USE WITH HEAT ENGINES.

Application lied April 2, 1929, Serial No. 99,428, and in Germany November 90, 1925.

This invention relates to a centrifugal oil separator for explosion engines, for internal combustion engines, for external combustion engines and generally speaking for all kinds of heat engines, for preserving the essential properties of the lubricating oil and consequently, making it last longer in use, which enables great economy of lubricant to be made.

Consider, for example, the case of explosion engines; it is known that the oil employment for their lubrication rapidly loses its lubricating properties for the following reasons:

(a) It becomes charged with particles 4of metal due to the wear of the members;

(b) A certain amount of petrol which is not utilized for the combustion becomes 'mixed with the oil in spite of the relatively fluid tight=fit of the piston rings.

(c) It becomes charged with carbonaceous deposits'from the residues of combustion.

(d) It is subjected to a high temperature and it is always very inadequately cooled. A

By means of the apparatus which forms the subject mattei' of the invention the deterioration of the lubricant is obviated, due to the fact that the said lubricant is constantly and perfectly separated, while it is at the same time thoroughly cooled.

This apparatus is characterized essentially by the application and by the combination of the devices which are so arranged as to bring about under the influence of centrifugal force the separation of the impurities contained in the oil to be extracted.

Its action is as much felt on the petrol which is mixed in the oil as on the metal andcarbonaceous particles which are held in -suspension in it; the double separation could not be effected'by means usuall employed which consist in the use of ters.

IThe a paratus referred to may also be d) with a water pump and one or more oil pumps, so as to yform one and the same member.

The present invention further relates to improvements in the rotary distributor lof the separator in question with a view to improving the working 'of this apparatus.

These improvements are characterized by the use and the combination of the following means: y

1. A special arrangement of the concentric ribs formmg annular chambers, which 2. An arrangement of the orifices provided for the purpose of establishing communication between the first chamber of the se arator andthe distributor proper, either beyond the outer rib or in roximity to the rib nearest to the centre of t ie apparatus.

3. The interposition, between the first chamber or the Separator specified under (2)- and the distributor proper, of a plate integral or virtually integral with the bottom of the above mentioned chamber and provided for the purpose of spreading out the liquid which is to be purified.

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammaticallv and by wav of example alone, a form of construction of the apparatus combined with a geared oil pump and a centrifugal water ump, so as to form one and the same member.

Figure 2 is a section of the same apparatus taken along the line I-I in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows, by way of another example, a modification of the position which the upper ribs of the rotating distributor may occupy relatively to the vertical axis.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical section of another form of the rotary distributor.

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view of a modified form.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a different form in which the base of the first separating chamber is provided with a special plate for spieading out the liquid,

and finally,

Fi ure 7 shows the arrangement of the circu ar channels or grooves which are concentric with the general axis of the apparatus.

The separator proper is enclosed in a casing comprising a fluid tight upper part 1 assembled upon a lower casing 2.

The upper casing 1 1s provided with a pi pc 3 through which the o il enters the apparatus. In this casing is mounted'a shaft 4,

radially in the said shaft. The bore 5 communicates' with a first chamber 7 of a tributor 8 rotating withV the shaft 4. 'Elije lower wall ofthe chamber 7 is pierced with a series of holes 9, the axes of which arepnr concentric circles; upon this lower face are formed ribs 10, 11, 12 and 13, arranged con-f centrically, Awhich ribs may have any inf elination relative to the main axis of the apparatus.

Upon the lower part, below these ribs, at a distance varying according to the speed of rotationof the apparatus, according to the delivery required from it, according to the degree of separation desired, is assembled by any means, a plate 14 provided with a series of inclined ribs 15, 16, 17 and 18. This plate is also pierced with a series of holes 19, lthe axes'of which are on concentric circles, the holes being disposed, relativelv to the ribs 15,

. V16, 17 and 18, 'as shown in the drawing.

The lower plate 14 is integral or virtually integral with a shaft 20-wh ich centers the rotating distributor either in a ball thrust bearing or in a smooth thrust bearing support, carried by the lower casing 2. This shaft 20 may also be extended as shown in Figure 1 so as to drive an oil pump 21 and a water pump 22, or one only of these two pumps.

The ribs of the grooves 15 to 18 of the rotating distributor fit between other ribs forming part of the lower casing 2.

The spaces which are left between these ribs form annular divisions 23, 24, 25 and 26, which may either be separated from each other or communicate with each other, as for example the divisions 24, 25 and 26.

A circulating water chamber 27 also forms a part of this lower casing and completely surrounds the last chamber 26. This circulating water chamber is provided with a water inlet 28 and a water outlet 29, communicating either directly with the water pump or with the radiator, according to the degree of cooling desired. Y The division 23, which is nearest the centre of the apparatus, is provided with one or more outlet pipes 30. The divisions 24, 25 and 26, which communicate with each other are also provided with one or more outlet pipes 31.

The divisions 23 and 24 may, contrary to the arrangement shown in Figure 1, communicate with each other and be separated from the divisions 25 and 26.

The number of holes 9, of ribs 10, 11, 12 and 13, of orifices 19, of ribs 15, 16, 17 and 34, 35 and 23, 24, 25 and 26, may vary. The u dimensions and the relative positions of 'these different members may also be varied according to the dimensions of the apparatus and consequently according to the amount of oil which must pass through the apparatus in unit time. Y -The external crown of the rotating distributor is pierced with a series of`orifices 36, which are closed, when the apparatus is working, by means of a collar 37 formedin two parts. The lower casing, with the inclined ribs with which it is rovided, the divisions 23, 24, 25 and 26 ancFthe outlet pipes 30 and 31 constitute the fixed receiver. l The apparatus described operates as folows:- Y

The lubricant to be separated, coming from either the crank case of the engine (in this case the separator would be placed under the charge of the oil casing of the engine), or a pump which forces it under pressure, arrives through the pipe 3 andrenters the bore 5 of the shaft 4, through Ithe orifices 6. The shaft 4, driven inany way, by the engine` and rotating, either at the same speed in the case Vof a high speed engine, or at a higher speed in the case of a slow 'speed engine, drives the .rotating distributor 8 at the same speed.v

The lubricant passing through the bore 5 into the chamberY 7 is immediately subjected to the action of the centrifugal forcel the effect of which is to produce, in the chamber 7, a separation of the parts according to their density; the metal particles and the carbouaceous particles, having the greatest density, are immediately thrown towards the outer wall of this chamber 7. The particles of less density (globules of oil proper to the lubrication, for example) enter the zone of the annular' divisions 34, and for example, while the light particles, the petrol for example, enter the part which is nearest the axis of the apparatus.

The metallic particles remain along the external wall of the chamber 7 they cannot be ejected from the chamber because the orifices 36 are closed by the collar 37.4 The oil runs into the divisions 32, 33 and 34 through the orifices pierced in. coincidence with these divisions. The light particles in their turn flow through the pierced orifices coinciding with the central division 38.

These different parts follow the ribs 10, 11, 12 and 13, in order to cross the lower plate 14 through the orifices 19 which are pierced in the latter.

The distance which separates the ribs 10, 11, 12 and 13 from the lower plate 14 allows a new separation of these arts to take place. The metallic particles ang the carbonaceousv particles which may have escaped the first separation are thrown out in the division 35.

lili

The oils, first following the ribs 16, 17 and 18, fall into the' divisions 24, 25 and V26, .while the light parts following the lrib 15, fall vinto the division 23 and are ejected through the outlet pipes 30.

The oil collected inthe divisions 24, 25 and 26, that is to say the oil which is freed of all impurities, is ejected towards the oil pump through the pipe 31. This oil `is cooled by cold water which circulates round the division 26 in the circulating water -chamber 27.

. series of ribs, so that the separation is effected in a corresponding number of stages.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figure 4 the distributor proper is enclosed in a casing similar to the one shown in Figure 1, only the upper part of the casing beingshown in the drawing. In this casing` is mounted a shaft which is hollow over a certain part of its length and serves for the purpose of driving the apparatus.

The internal bore 5 of this shaft is placed in communication with the oil inlet 3 through a series of orifices pierced radially in the shaft. The bore 5 communicates with a first chamber 7 of the distributor turning with the above mentioned shaft. The lower wall of the chamber 7 is pierced with a series of apertures the axes of which are upon a circle concentric with the axis of the apparatus.

At a certain distance from the lower face of this wall are disposed the ribs 10, 11, 12 and 13; in the example illustrated these ribs are integral or virtually integral with the plate 14 the other face of which is provided With a series of inclined ribs 15, 16, 17 and 18. The plate 14 is pierced with a series of apertures 19 and 53 the axes of which are situated upon concentric circles and which are arranged, relatively to the ribs 15, 16, 17 and 18, as shown in the drawing.

The lower platel14 is formed upon a shaft 2O vwhich centres the rotating;` distributor either in a ball thrust bearing or in a smooth thrust bearing as hereinbefore described.

As hereinbefore described, the ribs 10, 11, 12 and 13 are always integral or virtually integral with the lower wall 14 of the rotating distributor and beyond the rib 13, upon a circle concentric with the latter, are

situated the axes of the orifices 50 pierced in the lower wall 51 of the first chamber 7 of the distributor. The wall 14 is itself ierced with a series of orifices 19 the axes owhich are upon a circle situated in the compartment or chamber 35 at a varyingl distance fromthe wall 39. Another series of orifices 52, is pierced in the central part of the wall 14 which merges into the central chamber 38.

According to the nature of the mixture to be separated and the degree of separation desired other series of orifices may be pierced in the wall 14, such as the orifices 53 which establish communicationbetween the cham- "i ber 33 and the fixed receiver ratus.

The operation of the Figure 4 is as follows of the appa- The liquid to be separated undergoes a.

first separation in the chamber 7 and this operation results in a certain amount of the solid particles which are held in suspension in the liquid being de osited upon the outer wall of the said cham 'r 7. As regards the liquid particles, these descend through the orifices 50 into a chamber 35, undergoing a fresh separation, t-icles which may still remain in suspension in the liquid are then deposited along the wall 39. The heaviest liquid particles are apparatus `shown in by. density. The solid par exhausted through the orifices 19. On the,

other hand the particles of small densit follow the path indicated in dot and dasi lines in Figure 4 in order to pass then into the chamber 38 after having deposited the last solid impurities they may still have contained along the ribs 13, 12, 11 and 10.

The liquid, completely freed from impurities is discharged into the fixed receiver through the orifice 52.

lVhen the liquid which is to be urified contains several liquid substances of)1lifi'cl' ent densities which it is desired to collect separately, the latter may be removed through the series of orifices situated forexample, in the annular chamber 33.

In the modification shown in Figure 5 thc ribs 10 and 12 are integral or virtually integral with the wall 14, while the other ribs 11 and 13 are, on the contrary, the lower wall 51 of the chamber 7. In

other words, yfor two consecutive ribs 10 and 11, one of the ribs is integral or virtually integral with the wall 51 while the other is formed upon the wall 14.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 5 is the same as that of the one shown in Figure 4. However, the path traversed by the liquid particles is` different As shown in this figure, the liquid particles first circulate along the wall 39c in order to reach the lower part of the rib 13; the circulate upwards along the rib 13 in or er to travel subsequently, in' the opposite direcformed upon Yis tion, along the rib 12; they then move upalong the rib 10 which forms a part of the chamber 38. It is from this chamber that then liquid of small density flows in to the corresponding art of the fixed receiver.l

In the modi ed form shown in Figure 6, the liquid issues from the first separation chamber 7 through the orifices 54 the axes of which are arranged upon a circle situated at a very small distance from the general axis of the apparatus, that is to say upon a circle the radius of which is smaller than that of the circular rib 10 forming the wall of the central chamber 38 of the distributor. Upon issuing from these orifices the liquid is spread out in thin sheets upon a plate 55 inte al 0r virtually inte al with the wall 51, a ter which this liqui follows exactly the same path as in the form shown in Figure 4.

Finally, the improvement shown-in Figure 7 consists in replacing the series of orifices disposed upon circles concentric with the circular ribs, by circular slots 19 or 51.

By means of the arrangement shown in Figures 4 to 6 the result is obtained of increasing by a large amount the path of the liquid particles which it is desired to separate and consequently the surface wetted by these particles even though the s ace occupied by the apparatus is small. hus with an apparatus constructed according to the arrangement shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and divided by concentric ribs 10, 11, 12 and 13 into five compartments 38, 32, 33, 34, 35, it is possible to obtain the same useful effect as with a centrifugal ytubular separator the separating bowl of which has a length five times as great.

'llie apparatus, the mode of operation of which lias been hereinbefore described may be mounted on an engine in different ways:

(a) It may be combined in one and the same member with one or two oil pumps and aV water pump, one of the oil pumps drawing the oil from the crank case and forcing it underl ressure to the separator, while the second raws oil from the separator and feeds it to the arts to be lubricated.

(b) It may mounted se arately and receive the oil to be separated rom an independent pump and eject the separated oil by a pump which is also independent. It may receive its cooling water from an independent water pump, or else from any kind of radiator.

(c) It may be so mounted on the engine that it receives the oil to be separate by gravity from the crank case.

(d) Finally it may be driven by the engine i1i.any manner.

The .apparatus is not only applicable to explosion engines, but also to any internal i,e 14,sos if `combustion engines i (Diesel engines, semiwards along the rib 11 and then descend Diesel engines, heavy oil -engines of any type), to all heat engines steam engines, steam turbines, for example In the case of steam engines and steam turbines, the oil,

having completed a lubricating circuit, conv tains in suspension small drops of water which it has collected from contact with the steam and from the lubricating in these t pes of machines; the apparatus enables t is water to be separated from the oil.

What I claim is:

1. A centrifugal lubricating oil separator for all heat engines, com rising a rotating distributor having a cham r into which the oil first passes for undergoin a first separation o the impurities, the ower wall of said chamber being provided with a series of orifices, thel axes of said orifices being disposed Iin concentric circles, a series of concentric ribs depending from said lower wall forming a series of annular separating -chambers with which said series or orifices posed in concentric circles, a series of con-` centric ribs depending from said lower wall forming a series of annular separating chambers with which said series of orifices communicate, another wall enclosing said ribs and annular chambers, said other wall being provided with orifices, and a second set of ribs depending from said lower wall in operative relation to said last mentioned orifices, and a fixed receiver having a set of annular ribs interleaving with the lowermost ribs upon the distributor.

3. An oil separator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generating lines of the series of orifices are, inclined at an angle to the main axis of the apparatus.

4. An oil se arator as claimed inclaim 1, iii which the xed receiver includes ribs -inclined to the axis of the apparatus and ribs parallel to the axis of the apparatus provided upon said fixed receiver, spaces being left between said ribs forming divisions int-o which the lowermost ribs on .the distributor extend.

5. An oil se arator as claimed in claim 1, in which the xed receiver includes ribs inclined to the axis of the apparatus and ribs parallel to the axis of the apparatus prolib vided upon said fixed receiver, spaces being left between said ribs forming divisions which communicate with each other.

6. An oil separator as claimed in claim 1, including in combination with the fixed receiver, a circulating water casing in which receiver the oil having been freed of all its im urities is cooled by means of said circulating water.

7. An oil separator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with a plurality of series of ribs and orifices the number of said series of ribs and orifices corresponding to the number of stages in which it is desired to carry out the separation.

8. An oil separator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a collar normally closing peripheral apertures in said distributor, said collar completely surrounding'said rotating distributor, said collar being removable from said apertures adapted to enable solid particles separated from the oil and which have lodged in said apertures to be rapidly ejected by centrifugal orce.

9. An oil separator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an oil pum and a water ump, said oil pump and sai water pump eing united so as to form one whole.

10. A centrifugal lubricating oil separator for all heat engines, said separator comprising a rotating distributor adapted to effect the separation, by centrifugal force, of the impurities contained in the oil, said rotating distributor including a chamber, in which chamber is effected a first se aration of the impurities, one wall of said c amber formed with a series of orifices, the axes of said orifices beintg disposed'on concentric circles and said ori ces establishin communication between said chamber andg the distributor proper, a series of concentric ribs provided upon the lower wall of said distributor proper, said ribs forming annular compartments.

11. An oil separator as claimed in claim 10, further comprising concentric ribs upon the upper wall of said chamber, the arrangement of the ribs being such that for two adjacent ribs one is provided upon the lower wall and the other upon the upper wall of said distributor proper.

12.*An oil separator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the orifices adapted to establish communication between said first chamber of the separator with the distributor propel'. are formed beyond the outer rib.

13. An oil separator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the orifices adapted to establish communication between said first chamber of the separator with the distributor proper are formed in proximity to the rib nearest the centre of the ap aratus.

14:` An oil separator as c aimed in claim 10, wherein a plate is interposed between said first chamber and the distributor proper, said plate being provided upon the base of said chamber and adapted to spread out the liquid which is to be purified by separation.

15. A centrifugal lubricating oil separator for all heat en 'nes, said parator comprising a rotating istributor adapted to effect the se aration, by centrifugal force, of the impurities contained in the oil, a fixed receiver combined with said distributor said distributor being formed with circular slots concentric with the general axis of the apparatus and ada ted to establish communication betweenV t e various parts of the distributor and to discharge the products of the se aration into said fixed receiver.

n testimony wlereof I have signed my name to this specification.

, DANIEL PERRIEJR. 

